Leesburg Near New Budget City Tentatively Oks Spending, Tax Increase

LEESBURG — Hoping to do a better job of fighting crime, the city commission Monday tentatively approved a $60.3 million budget that calls for a 13 percent tax rate increase.

The tax boost, the first in five years, would add about $24 to the tax bill of a person owning $70,000 in property, assuming the value of the home didn't increase during the past year.

The city commission wants to use part of the extra revenue to hire six officers and a clerk for the police department. Police Chief Jim Brown has said calls have increased from about 20,000 in 1988 to a projected 23,000 in 1990.

The commission also plans to give employees a 4 percent cost-of-living pay raise and to increase the salary schedule by an average of 2 percent to bring it in line with governments of similar size.

The tax rate, if approved during a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, will be $4.50 for every $1,000 in property value. That rate will put $1.8 million into the city's coffers.

When the natural growth of property values are considered, the new tax rate actually will represent a 22 percent increase over last year. Here's why: Last year, the commission set the rate at $3.97 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which generated about $1.5 million in revenue. But with the growth in property values since then, commissioners could roll the rate back this year to $3.70 and still raise the same amount of money as it did last.

''We've been slow in boosting the ad valorem tax rates when compared to other cities,'' Commissioner Bob Lovell said.

Lovell said profits from the city's utilities have enabled Leesburg to hold back tax increases in the past.

The utilities account for more than $45 million of the budget and contribute $3.4 million to Leesburg's general operating fund. The rest comes from the property and sales taxes, franchise fees, and state and federal contributions.

The city commission tentatively adopted the budget and millage rate in 4-0 vote after little discussion.

Highlights of the budget include: - $320,000 to begin construction of the new Sleepy Hollow recreation complex in east Leesburg for soccer, softball and football fields.

- $1 million for the 155-boat slip marina at Venetian Gardens on Lake Harris.

- $135,000 for lighting at Pat Thomas Stadium in Venetian Gardens.

- $117,000 for the new downtown parking lot where the vacant McCrory Building stands.